Chapel Hats – Now closed. The space was converted to a temporary retail home for Vault 28's The Disney Dress Shop line through the holiday season.

Happiest NEWS on Earth

Runners Assemble!

The fourth Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend begins this Thursday, November 9th, and continues through Sunday, November 12th. The races are expected to draw tens of thousands of runners, walkers, and spectators to the Disneyland Resort, and includes road closures and operational changes that could impact anyone visiting during this weekend. .

The Last Run

This will be the last runDisney event on the calendar in SoCal, with future races put on "hiatus" through 2019 because of construction projects at the Disneyland Resort.

For one more run around the park before the hiatus, registration is still open for the Super Heroes Half Marathon event, though runDisney has added a $12 "late registration" fee to the $185 event price, and warns that corral placement is based on availability, and shirt sizes are not guaranteed

Guest at the resort?

The Disneyland Resort is going to be extremely popular this weekend. The race falls during the start of the 2017 holiday celebration, as well as over the long Veteran's Day Weekend. Runners tend not to stay up late the night before a races, but guests coming to see the new nighttime holiday entertainment will keep the parks busy after dark.

The Health Expo takes place in the Disneyland Hotel's convention center, so expect large crowds at the stores and eateries. If you are staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels, expect some event related noise Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, starting before dawn. If you are staying at the Grand Californian Hotel in a room overlooking Downtown Disney, expect to hear spectator cheering starting around 5:45 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

While all the events take place before park opening or outside the parks, you will still experience traffic delays and extra crowds. Give yourself plenty of time if driving to the resort in the morning.

Both parks open at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Early entry for hotel guests and eligible ticket holders is at 8:00 a.m. at Disney California Adventure on Friday and Sunday, at Disneyland on Saturday, .

You can not view the race from inside Disneyland park unless you purchase a $79 ChEAR Squad package. Online registration is still open, and you may purchase packages at the Expo. There is no half marathon viewing inside DCA, and no theme park viewing for the 5K or 10K events.

If you want to come cheer on the runners without buying a ticket, or plan to cheer at the Friday's 5K or Saturday's 10K, Disney recommends viewing areas on property. All of these viewing areas are accessible only by foot; so walk from either the Mickey and Friends parking structure, or your hotel.You can register to receive runner tracking updates via text message, Twitter, or Facebook. Sign up via the runDisney webform, or text "SH " to 38909.

Runners

Once again the event guide is only available in digital format so be sure to take a look before you come to Anaheim. Corral, bib assignment and waivers are all available on the runDisney website now.

Expo

The first guests will arrive well before the official 10:00 a.m. opening on Thursday. You do not need to collect your race packet before you enter the expo.

Because the Expo remains open until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Friday afternoon may be the best time to attend the expo if all you want to do is get your race packet and get out. If you're running the half marathon, you can visit the Expo between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday to get your race gear.

Transportation

Disney charges runners to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure during the race expo and on race morning. If you are an annual passholder with parking benefits they will be honored. If you are staying at an Anaheim area hotel on the ART (Anaheim Resort Transit), free shuttles run every 20 minutes during the events.

Registered runners can receive 2 hours complimentary parking when using the Downtown Disney parking lot for the expo. Take your parking ticket with you when you leave your car. After you pick up your race bib, take your bib and parking ticket to the Parking Validation booth on the lower level. to receive the validation stamp. This covers the first two hours of Downtown Disney parking; additional hours are charged in 30 minute increments at $6.

Jazz, Brunch, and Building

The fun happens three times this year: December 9th, 10th and 16th. participants can do a brunch and building package, or just come for the construction portion.

The Building and Brunch package is a 3 hour party. Builders can feast at the Ralph Brennan's brunch buffet from 11:00 to 12:00, and enjoy unlimited soft drinks. After brunch, stay for the gingerbread house workshop. The package is $40 per adult, and $25 per child age 3-10. Gingerbread house kits are $25 each, and come with the pre-formed gingerbread slabs, icing, candy decorations and a jingle bell. Each party must purchase at least one gingerbread kit for their group, but may purchase additional kits if some members want to build their own house.

The Workshop Only package includes admission to the two hour workshop, where your group creates and decorates your own gingerbread house, which you get to take home. The price is $48 for two people, which includes one gingerbread kit, with additional seats available for $20 each. Tickets for this package are limited. You may bring your own decorations; icing, candy, and such .

Catal's Breakfast with Santa

The 2017 event is expanded, with seatings 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on December 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Tickets went on sale back in July, but space is still available. The event includes family style breakfast at Catal restaurant in Downtown Disney, live entertainment, a photo opportunity with Santa Claus, and a Build-a-Bear Workshop teddy bear for each child. Tickets are $75 per adult, and $30 per child ages 3 to 10. Children 2 and under are free, but must be counted in the party size. Book online via the Patina Group website.

Pixar Pier

Disney released details of the Pixar Pier re-theme of Paradise Pier. Those of us hoping this was a temporary overlay now know this is a permanent makeover for Disney's California Adventure. Leaving one to wonder, is it time to change the park's name? Between these changes and the conversion of part of Hollywood Land to a Marvel theme, there is less and less California here.

Disney will separate Paradise Pier into four neighborhoods Three of the neighborhoods will be themed to single Pixar films: The Incredibles, Toy Story, and Inside Out. The Incredibles section center piece being The Incredicoaster, a permanent re-theme of California Screamin'. Disney says the ride will feature a new vehicle, new effects, some form of "character moment," and a new load area.

The Toy Story neighborhood features Toy Story Midway Mania, and will mean a new theme for King Triton's Carousel also in the neighborhood, though Disney's announcement made no mention of any plans for the carousel.

A brand new attraction based on Inside Out is planned on the spot which held the Maliboomer. Disney says this ride will open at a later date. From the artwork it appears to be a rotating arial ride ala the Golden Zephyr.

The fourth neighborhood is sort of a "Fantasyland" of Pixar. While Mickey's Fun Wheel will still feature Mickey's pie-eyed face looking out over Paradise Bay, each of the gondolas will be painted with a different Pixar character. The Games of the Boardwalk will also get a Pixar makeover, with new carnival games inspired by "A Bug's Life," "La Luna" and "WALL·E."

Ariel's Grotto and the Cove Bar will both get Pixar make overs, and will also close January 8th. There has been no word as to a possible replacement for the Princess character meal currently offered at Ariel's Grotto. Everything between Silly Symphony Swings and The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure, including the Paradise Gardens area, will become a new land called Paradise Park.

Walls go up January 8th with the closure of California Screamin', Mickey's Fun Wheel, Ariel's Grotto, the Cove Bar, Games of the Boardwalk and Sideshow Shirts. Disney says the new land is expected to debut during the Pixar Fest promotion which begins April 13th, though The Incredicoaster opens in June, around the release of The Incredibles 2.

Mickey's Birthday

The Disney company is marking Mickey Mouse's upcoming birthday with appearances around the globe this month, "surprising fans in eight locations with an unexpected visit". The world tour wraps up on November 15, when "the boss" pays a visit to Good Morning America. You can follow the antics on the official Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as by tracking the hash tag #HappyBirthdayMickey

Mickey's birthday is Monday, November 18, and that's when Disneyland will commemorate the occasion with a character cavalcade and performance by the Disneyland Band. Park visitors will also receive a commemorative Happy Birthday, Mickey! button that day.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It is a week early this year! Holidays at the Disneyland Resort officially begins this Friday, November 10th, and runs through January 7th, 2018. The holiday focus continues on DCA. Two holiday overlays are coming to Cars Land attractions, "Luigi's Joy to the Whirl" and "Mater's Jingle Jamboree." Each holiday overlay features new songs recorded for the attractions.

For the Halloween Time the lighting moments on Buena Vista Street and in Cars Land were synchronized, to avoid having a wave of people move from one location to the other to catch both There was no specific mention of a new "lighting moment" for Cars Land, but given that the nightly tree lighting on Buena Vista Street was moved by 5 minutes this year to take place at sunset, it seems likely there will be something happening in Cars Land as well.

The fantastic Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure for a second year, with entertainment and food offerings themed to winter celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. Returning performing groups Blue13 Dance Company and Mostly Kosher are joined by a new a capella group The Sound. Also returning my personal favorite ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party. Princess Elena's Musical Grand Arrival will also be returning for a second year. Guests are encouraged to dance to live music during the new nightly Holiday Sunset Concerts in Paradise Park. Phat Cat Swinger performs Fridays through Mondays, and the Mariachi Divas take the stage Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Santa will be in residence at both the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure and Pooh Corner in Disneyland Park this year, and will appear in A Christmas Fantasy Parade at Disneyland. Also in Disneyland perennial favorite "it's a small world" holiday reopens on Friday for the season. The nightly lighting moment takes place at 5:15 p.m. most nights. The brief "Wintertime Enchantment" of Sleeping Beauty Castle takes place twice most nights, with projections on the castle and snow in the immediate area.

Festival of Foods Returns

DCA Festival of Holidays returns for 2017, with over 60 different food and drink selections served from the following 14 booths.

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